The Vatican Steps In (Terri Schiavo Alert!)

In an unusual foray into American politics and law, a highly placed Vatican cardinal issued a second statement in two weeks in defense of the life of Terri Schiavo, saying "How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights–of human life–remain silent?"

In reaction, a prominent Catholic pro-life figure said that Cardinal Renato Martino’s second statement should prod the U.S. bishops to do more to try to save the life of the disabled Florida woman who faces a March 18th date to have her feeding tube removed.

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome, said in a March 7th statement distributed via Virginia-based Human Life International:

"Without the tube, which is providing life-giving hydration and nutrition, Terri Schiavo will die. But it is not that simple. She will die a horrible and cruel death. She will not simply die; she will have death inflicted upon her over a number of terrible days, even weeks. How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights--of human life--remain silent? Is this not a question of the right to life? I believe that I must speak out about this in the same way that I would speak of the protection of the unborn and just as I would concerning any injustice."

Cardinal Martino first spoke out in February, saying, "If Mr. Schiavo succeeds in legally causing the death of his wife, this not only would be tragic in itself, but it would be a grave step toward the legal approval of euthanasia in the United States."

In this March 7th statement, Cardinal Martino speaks with great passion in defense of the life of Terri Schiavo, saying even animals receive more protection under the law than Ms. Schiavo is receiving.

Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990 at age 26 and suffered brain damage but her parents say she continues to interact with them. A Florida judge set a March 18th date to remove her feeding tube, at the request of her husband and legal guardian Michael Schiavo who has been trying to get the tube removed for seven years. Terri Schiavo’s parents and siblings have continued to fight for her life and to have Michael Schiavo, who is living with another woman with whom he has two children, removed as guardian. A number of legislative and legal actions are underway at the state and federal level and the eight-member Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops last week issued a statement in support of Terri Schiavo’s life.

However, Terri Schiavo’s own bishop, Tampa-St. Petersburg Bishop Robert Lynch has garnered criticism for his approach, saying in a statement issued Feb. 28th, "At the end of the day (the judicial, legislative days) the decision to remove Terri’s artificial feeding tube will be that of her husband, Michael," even as the Schindlers continue to fight to remove him as guardian. Lynch called for mediation at the "end of life" when Terri Schiavo’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler and medical opinion is clear that Schiavo is disabled not terminal. In addition, Lynch describes the Schindlers’ fight for their daughter’s life as something within a family and describes the struggle as "the seeming intractablity of both sides."

Austin Ruse, president of the Culture of Life Foundation sent an e-mail from Rome March 8th to IgnatiusInsight.com, saying: "Of sourse, Cardinal Martino is correct and his strong statement in defense of Terri Schiavo's life stands as a rallying cry for Catholics everywhere. We look for this kind of statement from the American Bishops."

Pope John Paul II declared in March 2004 that removing a feeding tube is "euthanasia by omission" even in the case of patients judged to be in a "persistent vegetative state."

The March 7th statement by Cardinal Martino was sent via e-mail from Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula, director of the office of Human Life International in Rome and confirmed in an e-mail from Msgr. James M. Reinert of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace to Ignatius Press President Mark Brumley.

Msgr. Barreiro writes in his March 7th e-mail to Human Life International in Virginia: "In our unflagging struggle to defend the life of Terry Schiavo this an important and very encouraging document that should receive the most ample possible distribution.

Today as we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas (1962 calendar) I am imploring the Angelical Doctor to came to our assistance and protect the life of Terri Schiavo."

Statement of Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

The courts have ruled again and again. Unfortunately, the deadline for the removal of the tube delivering food and water to Terri Schiavo is quickly approaching. I am sorry to have to use the word "deadline" but this is the most accurate way to describe what will happen. Without the tube, which is providing life-giving hydration and nutrition, Terri Schiavo will die. But it is not that simple. She will die a horrible and cruel death. She will not simply die; she will have death inflicted upon her over a number of terrible days, even weeks. How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights--of human life--remain silent? Is this not a question of the right to life? I believe that I must speak out about this in the same way that I would speak of the protection of the unborn and just as I would concerning any injustice.

Has due process in this case been truly served? Have all options been employed? Where is love? Where is human compassion? No one would ever wish to witness the suffering of another, especially a loved one. And I am sure that no one could ever choose to witness suffering or a cruel death being inflicted upon another, especially one who is loved. How then have we come to this point?

If it is true that the process has been fair, and that all legal avenues have been exhausted, how is it that this woman, who has done nothing wrong, will suffer a fate which society would never tolerate in the case of a convicted murderer, or anyone else convicted of the most horrendous crimes? Again, it is an issue of human rights. It is an issue of the right to life, and as I stated earlier, no one can be the arbiter of life except God himself!

The State of Florida has many laws on its books which protect animals, whether they be household pets, domesticated farm animals or animals destined for slaughter. (And please pardon me as I make this analogy. I am not comparing Terri to an animal. I only want to show the protection that the courts afford to animals in the State of Florida.) These laws "prohibit[s] anyone from intentionally committing an act to any animal which results in cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering" (828.12). It is also unlawful to keep an animal in a place while failing to supply "a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water"(828.13).

Are these laws not enforced by the same courts, are these not the same laws established by lawmakers in order to protect other creatures of God?

However, in just a few days, (if her husband and the courts have their way), this is exactly what will happen to Terri. She will be completely deprived of water and food. She will have excessive suffering and pain inflicted upon her, which will lead to her cruel death. Yet we have come to the point of asking whether due process been fully carried out and all options exhausted on behalf of Terri? This is unbelievable! Is it not sufficient enough to say that there are still questions that must be answered? We plead; we make the urgent appeal for the life of a helpless human being...a person with whom we all share our God given human dignity. How can anyone say that her best interests have been taken into consideration?

In his Message for the Eleventh World Day of the Sick (11 February 2003) His Holiness Pope John Paul II stated: "And while palliative treatment in the final stage of life can be encouraged, avoiding a "treatment at all costs" mentality, it will never be permissible to resort to actions or omissions which by their nature or in the intention of the person acting are designed to bring about death."

Palliative care, by its definition is the alleviation of suffering and relieving pain. In the last stage of life, it is this care for which we all must hope because, if the feeding tube is removed and Terri is forced to die this slow, terrible, painful death, we must ask ourselves, "And who will be next?" Will this open the door for a state to decide whether this or that incapacitated person should die...not be allowed to die a dignified death but that they should have death inflicted upon them?

It must stop here and now. The courts, the judges and everyone involved with this must understand that all of the questions involved in the case of Terri Schiavo have not yet been answered. Society must realize that we can never inflict this sort of death on a human being, on any other creature, without each and every one of us and society as a whole suffering a terrible fate.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 8, 2005

Epilogue to the Terri Shiavo Devotional. Rarely in the past 67 months of
writing this Devotional each morning do I ever follow up with a Devotional
on a previous Devotional. However, this is one of those rare occasions when
after much prayer I feel it is necessary. With over 2 million people
worldwide who subscribe to the Daily Devotional, the fact that through
forwards, hundreds of websites we have given permission to post it on, and
various message boards and blogs people post it to, well over 1 million more
read it each day.

Since I deal most days with issues many refuse to deal with, I know there
will always be a percentage of people who don't agree with what I share for
a variety of reasons and that is fine. Even if you don't agree with what
you read, I pray it will open your heart and mind to think about the issues
that are raised and how they relate to your own life. My ultimate goal each
day is to share with those who read the Daily Devotional the real life
issues we all face during our journey through life in the context of the
truth of God's Word, encouraging and challenging those who know the Lord to
be all God has called them to be, while pointing the lost and hurting to the
hope and love we have in Jesus Christ.

I knew in trying to bring balance to the sad, emotionally charged story of
Terri Schiavo while it was still unfolding, it would upset many due to the
incredible amount of misinformation that is being circulated by numerous
organizations who started using this tragedy as their "cause" once it became
a hot national story this past year, even though it has been going on for
over 15 years. Many people who have never read anything I have written in
the past, people who don't know me or this ministry, have partially read
Friday's Devotional and are circulating emails labeling me "Hitler," "an
angel of death," accusing me of being paid by Terri's estranged husband and
his attorney, being an advocate of her death, as well as the fact I will be
personally responsible for her death when she does die.

They obviously did not carefully read the entire Devotional and totally
missed the key points that were made. Sadly, they have become part of the
mob mentality this tragic story has created, and if anyone is not in
lockstep with them, you will be personally attacked and slimed. To those
who have slandered my good name and the great work God is doing here at
Liveprayer I can only say, "I forgive you."

My friend, nobody is more pro-life than myself and anyone who has read what
I write over any length of time would know that. Those who are using this
case to talk of
euthanasia are in error. The Schiavo case is RARE AND UNIQUE and has
nothing to do with the issue of euthanasia. This would never even have been
an issue only a few years ago since before artificial life support, people
like Terri were simply allowed to die a peaceful death. I did my best to
dispel some of the false information that so many who have never taken the
time to do any legitimate homework on the facts have been led to believe.

As I stated, if you are really interested in this issue, start back in 1990
and do your own research into what has really happened as opposed to the
stories various websites put out, especially the first 3 years when she was
seen by all of the top specialists available who did their best to treat her
(they all concluded nothing could be done for Terri, and 15 years later they
have been proven to be correct), as well as the court records of the
malpractice suits. Sadly, those who have been brainwashed already through
what they have read seem to have no desire to know what really happened,
instead have been whipped into an emotional frenzy by those who have a
vested interest in this tragic case.

One point nobody seems to want to address. EVERY COURT has ruled that her
wishes were to never be kept alive by artificial means. Why is that so hard
to believe that in fact this was her wish? I can assure you that in my
Living Will, if something tragic happened to me and I was in such a state I
will be allowed to die naturally and go be with Jesus. As a matter of fact,
I have yet to talk to one person who would want to be kept alive by
artificial means with no hope of ever recovering. Who would? Yet those who
claim to defend Terri, have never spoken to her, want to deny her wishes.

As a side note. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer who has had to
rule on many of the legal issues involved in the Terri Schiavo case is a
Republican, born-again Believer, and member of Calvary Baptist Church, one
of the great Southern Baptist churches in Clearwater, Florida. This man has
done his best to make his rulings based on the evidence and LAW, not half
truths, unsubstantiated rumors, and raw emotions. The hate-filled attack
letters and emails that he has received from "Christians" for simply doing
his job is sad. This is a brother in Christ who loves the Lord and has to
travel with security to be protected from CHRISTIANS! Those personally
attacking Judge Greer should be ashamed and I can guarantee you that you are
NOT representing the Lord for doing this.

For those who did read all that I wrote, you know my main focus was on 3
issues that stem from this tragedy. To encourage those who are in bondage
to an eating disorder like Terri was to look to the Lord for deliverance,
the need to have a Living Will so that if you are ever incapacitated your
wishes will be carried out and your fmaily does not have to make those
choices for you, and not playing games with salvation. We were blessed that
this has caused many in bondage to an eating disorder to seek the Lord for
the strength to find victory over that bondage. Also, from the invitation
at the end of the Devotional to know Christ, to date we have seen over 300
people we know of come to know Christ as their Savior. God can use even sad
tragedies for His glory!

(C) Copyright 2005, Bill Keller Ministries. All rights reserved.

http://Liveprayer.com

These people need contacted as well... this is no longer a private matter. Is this guy in the dark ages in this case? I am going to post your piece and this one to the main thread.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-
fschiavo09mar09,0,1035127.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

Democratic leader Rep. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, said the Legislature should stay out of the case.
"The Schiavo case is a personal matter. It's a family matter," Smith said.

Larry Spalding of the ACLU of Florida said Congress won't be under the same pressure to act as legislators in Florida, where a video clip of Terri Schiavo has been shown regularly on the news.

Spalding and other legal scholars said the federal bill would be unconstitutional. The measure by Martinez and Weldon would cover a narrow group of patients such as Schiavo who are under court order to remove their feeding tubes and have left no written instructions about how much health care intervention they would want if they became incapacitated.

Michael Allen, professor of law at Stetson University, called the bill "extraordinarily dangerous." It impinges on state rights by allowing lower federal courts to second guess decisions by the Supreme Court of Florida, or other states in different cases.

+++

there is a talk radio host named Mike McConnell who needs to be freeped. He calls himself a conservative, but he spent his whole show last weekend arguing for making Terri dead. In the past he has had a show in favor of legalizing drugs, and against the patriot act. He has also accepted advertising from CAIR, which is a front group for HAMAS.

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